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The Hyundai Alcazar , or as I like to call it, the ‘Creta Pro Max’, has joined the Autocar India long-term fleet. While it has been around for a while now, this is our first proper opportunity to live with it, use it like an owner would and see how it fits into everyday life rather than a tightly controlled test schedule. And in just the first few weeks, it has already been put through a fair mix of duties. What stands out immediately is how distinct the Alcazar now feels from the Creta . That was not always the case, but with the updated design, the front and rear have a very different identity. The connected LED tail-lamps and the sharp LED DRL signature give it a more sophisticated look, and its longer proportions make it appear like it belongs to a segment above. It has presence, and in a city like Mumbai, where SUVs are everywhere, that does count for something. Inside, the experience is familiar but well executed. The overall fit and finish is good, and the cabin feels solidl...

The Kinetic DX electric is a reincarnation of the iconic Kinetic Honda DX 2-stroke petrol scooter, featuring similar boxy, squared-off styling. While it enters a fiercely competitive electric scooter market, the DX has some strengths that might appeal to certain buyers. However, it also has some significant drawbacks that could make established rivals a better choice. If you're considering the Kinetic DX, here's what works in its favour and what doesn't. Reasons to buy the Kinetic DX Nostalgic and eye-catching design The DX electric's boxy, squared-off lines and clear design similarity to the original Kinetic Honda DX make it stand out on the road. The top DX+ variant comes in vibrant colour options that further enhance its appeal. With metal body panels and a solid, built-to-last feel, it has a unique neo-retro character that will tug at the heartstrings of fans of the original Kinetic Honda DX. If you want something that looks different from every other electric s...

The Resie tourRad adventure touring tyre range is aimed at riders who spend most of their time on highways and twisty roads, with occasional off-road use. The new tourRad range uses a radial construction for the rear tyres, while the both front TourR tyre options use a bias-ply construction. For this ride experience, the rear tourRad and front tourR tyres were equipped on a bunch of Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 s and one Triumph Scrambler 400 X as well. There are two non-radial front tyre options including a 100/90-19 and a 90/90-21 while the rear gets radials for 17inch rims in five different sizes. We got to do a Mumbai-Lonavala round trip of around 200kms with these tyres to get an understanding of how they perform. Considering that the tyres were brand new, I started off slowly as they needed some scrubbing in to get to their potential. Despite being brand new, our stint of getting out of the city felt good, with the bike feeling stable and offering good grip while filtering ...

Think bucket list driving destinations, and you probably picture yourself driving up the Stelvio Pass, cruising down California’s Pacific Coast Highway, or going banzai on the Touge routes around Tokyo. But we don’t usually appreciate the incredible journeys we can make right here in India the same way. Part of the reason is that they come with their own challenges – inconsistent road quality, unpredictable fuel stops, and the hesitation of taking a low-slung supercar far from the safety net of the city. For Zain Rais and The Supercar Route, that hesitation is exactly the problem they’re trying to solve. Europe’s finest exotics revelling on India’s finest tarmac. Zain has spent years driving some of the world’s greatest roads – from South Africa’s Garden Route to California’s Highway 101, and across Europe through Germany’s Black Forest and beyond. "After doing all of that," he says, "I realised we have roads in India that are just as special, but we don’t explore t...

One of the discussions on social media about the Renault Duster (re)launch is that the front grille carries only the Duster name and no Renault logo. People are debating the pros and cons. Are people going to buy it because it is a Duster, not a Renault? Has Renault played it right or put too much focus on just a product name? This is the classic sub-brand strategy. We have some examples already, like in the two-wheeler world, there’s Bajaj ’s Pulsar and TVS ’ Apache. Product names that have been elevated into strong sub-brands with the capability of finding their own consumer mind space. These companies have invested heavily in these brands, in terms of product portfolio, customer ecosystem and communication, and Mahindra has gone on record to say that not just the Thar, but the Scorpio and the XUV line would grow into their own sub-brands as well, à la JLR’s Defender , Range Rover et al.  In some markets, Toyota has a specific badge for the entire line-up offered under the...

In my last report , I said that I find the Scrambler XC to be best billed as a city bike, but ironically, that’s where my motorcycle has spent the least time so far. Instead, as was always intended, I have been spending most of my time with the bike out on highways and even on off-road trails, although admittedly, it is neither an outright tourer nor an off-road machine. Upright riding position and wide handlebars make for comfortable ergonomics. My only real gripe with the Scrambler XC is its short gearing, as it uses a 14-tooth front sprocket as opposed to the 15-tooth setup on the Speed 400 . Out on the highway, cruising at an indicated 100kph with the rev counter clocking about 6,000rpm, the bike already feels like it’s at the edge of its sweet spot. Pull harder, and the engine will reward you with more poke, but it doesn’t feel relaxed doing so. In fact, when the needle is ticking at 100kph, you’re actually doing 90kph, as there’s a good 10kph speedo error.  Well-padded...

Skoda is offering lucrative benefits on the outgoing Kushaq of up to Rs 3 lakh. This includes cash discounts, exchange bonus, and either corporate or loyalty benefits. Additionally, other models in Skoda's lineup, like the Kodiaq, Slavia, and the Kylaq, are also available with attractive offers for the period of April 2026.  Disclaimer: Discounts vary from city to city and are subject to stock availability. Check with your local dealership for exact figures. Skoda Kushaq discounts in April 2026 Up to Rs 3 lakh off For the outgoing MY25 Kushaq, Skoda is offering benefits of up to Rs 3 lakh. This includes a cash discount of Rs 2 lakh, exchange bonus of Rs 50,000, and a corporate/loyalty benefit of Rs 50,000. The outgoing Kushaq had a last recorded ex-showroom price range of Rs 10.61 lakh to Rs 18.43 lakh. Moreover, even the early MY26 units of the Kushaq are getting benefits of up to Rs 1.05 lakh. This comprises a cash discount of Rs 30,000, an exchange bonus of  Rs 25,...

The Suzuk i Burgman Street has been recently unveiled in updated form and is now based on a new platform derived from the Suzuki Access. It continues to be offered in two variants, with differences centred around features and tech. Here’s what each variant gets, along with prices. Suzuki Burgman Street variant breakdown Ride Connect Edition Before diving into the differences, let’s first look at what’s common. Both variants of the Burgman Street are powered by the same 124cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine and share this updated platform. The maxi-style design, relaxed ergonomics and practicality remain key highlights, with Suzuki also increasing underseat storage capacity as part of this update. The Ride Connect variant is the base model and comes equipped with a Bluetooth-enabled LCD display that supports smartphone connectivity features such as call/SMS alerts and turn-by-turn navigation prompts. It is offered in five single-tone colour options - Metallic Royal Bronze, Pe...

Six years after making its global debut, the Yaris Cross compact SUV has been unveiled in its latest avatar. While Toyota carried out a comprehensive update in 2024, this facelift is mostly minor. Aimed mainly at the European market, the 2026 Toyota Yaris Cross facelift brings revised exterior and interior details, while continuing to be based on the automaker’s TNGA-B platform. Facelift brings a revised front fascia, new colours and wheel designs More features added across trim levels Will be available with just one powertrain option  2026 Toyota Yaris Cross facelift: Exterior Most of the visual updates are concentrated at the front One of the most obvious updates on the exterior of the Yaris Cross facelift is noticeable at the front. The small and narrow grill of the old car has been replaced by a new honeycomb design that is body-coloured and better integrated into the fascia. The tweaked angular headlamps get sharper-looking lighting elements, and the new front bumpe...

Some motorcycles hijack the imagination more than most, and the KTM 790 Adventure R (now the 890) has always had a special place in my motorcycling bucket list. Having finally spent a week with it, including some off-roading and a long ride down to Goa, this is easily one of the most intoxicating motorcycles I’ve ridden, even if it has more than a few drawbacks. The easiest way to understand this motorcycle is to think of it as somewhere in between an ADV and an enduro-style dirt bike – a big-capacity travel enduro, if you will. Yes, it will tour and it’ll commute as well, but those are mere side quests in the storyline. This bike was born to be as off-road capable as something this big could be and its design tells you as much. It’s an awkward-looking thing from some angles and a beast from others. The famous underslung fuel tanks make up a sizable part of the design but play an even bigger role in the riding experience. Tucking 20 litres of fuel low along the sides has a beau...

The Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari are both midsize SUVs with seating for up to 7 occupants. While they are offered with petrol and diesel engines with manual and automatic transmission options, we will be focusing on their respective diesel-automatic versions here. Let us find out which one of these two home-grown SUVs offers better performance in the real world. Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari diesel AT: Specifications The XUV 7XO’s displacement advantage becomes clear out on the open road Mahindra XUV 7XO vs Tata Safari diesel AT: Engine specifications   Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel AT Tata Safari diesel AT Engine 4 cyls, turbocharged diesel 4 cyls, turbocharged diesel Displacement (cc) 2184 1956 Power (hp) 185 170 Torque (Nm) 450 350 Under the bonnet of the Tata Safari diesel is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 170hp and 350Nm of torque. However, the Safari’s oil burner has a displacement that is...